Press

MoM, A Rock Concert Musical

at The Barrow Group Theatre

New York Times : Ingrid is the interesting one. She begins as a trophy-wife type with a French twist, goes through an entertaining Patsy Stone of “Ab Fab” phase and ends up as Janis Joplin. There are five heroines in Richard Caliban’s “MoM: A Rock Concert Musical,” a somewhat inspired fantasy. It’s about women over 40 who become international rock stars as the band MoM. This show started in 2009 at the New York International Fringe Festival, which exists to be daring. The actresses are real musicians. They play guitars, drums, keyboard, saxophone, harmonica, accordion, flute and more. It’s enjoyable to watch Dana McCoy as the self-destructive Ingrid.

Backstage: As the opening number in Richard Caliban’s “MoM: A Rock Concert Musical” puts it, “Let rock ’n’ roll/Save your sorry-ass soul.” The good will engendered by the breaking-free premise and some enjoyable rock ’n’ roll is exhilarating.

It’s a versatile bunch, with the women singing in a wide variety of genres and playing everything from guitar to sax to flute to accordion. Nancy (Jane Keitel), Ingrid (Dana McCoy), Catalina (Stefanie Seskin), Melissa (Bekka Lindström), and Karen (Donna Jean Fogel). Caliban’s score, delving into classic rock, reggae, calypso, and rap, has its moments, notably Catalina’s “Cowboy in the Sky” and the a cappella “Life Is Sweet.” Much of the show is about female empowerment.

McCoy, whose character goes through some Janis Joplin self-abuse. They’re all able musicians, and the energy level approaches that of a big-name group at Madison Square Garden. Ultimately, “MoM” makes one hungry for more.

Long Way from Home: MoM—A Rock Concert Musical

Chuck Berry singing Hail, hail, rock and roll, deliver me from the days of old in the ‘60s heyday of Rock ‘n Roll could be the theme song for the MoMs, five women who completely change their lives. They form a band and become rock stars.

For each of them the band is an escape, whether from boredom, frustration, or perhaps simply the awareness that something is missing from life. It is rebellion, accomplishment, and ultimately both freedom and bondage.

We are held completely captive by the amazing transformations. Perhaps the most striking are Ingrid and Catalina.

Ingrid (Dana McCoy) is the wife of a wealthy and successful man and living the life of the “ladies who lunch.” She segues in song from “nothing else to do all day” to Take Me to Funky Town. With a legit voice as well as a belt, there is a Janis Joplin quality about her. The disintegration is clearly portrayed. From social drinking, martini in hand, to drugs and beer from the bottle.

All five more than hold their own as singers and musicians and the brief spoken scenes are effective. It is apparent that they are vocally extremely well trained. Two hours of hard core belting is nothing less than a major feat. The entire cast is very talented and superbly balanced.

It’s an exciting and disturbing story. The energy never lapses and the pace carries us through the entire experience.

A program note reads “Our small musical may not sizzle with special effects but we believe it has heart and soul and we hope you’ll have as much fun experiencing it as we do bringing it to you.”

August 4th, 2011 22:28

“Cube-Rat has brought back concept albums from the murky waters and putting it on stage. It fascinates, thrills and the songs are rhythmic, original and catchy. Beautiful sounds and ideas from a beautiful person. Anyone who considers themselves an audiophile would’ve had of seen Dana first!”

Minnie Cooper is a wannabe musician, stuck working nine-to-five in an office job and dreaming of the stage. It’s undoubtedly a familiar story for many of this year’s Fringe performers, and given all the more pathos by Dana McCoy, whose heartfelt portrayal is well supported by the songs, which are well-constructed and very witty. It’s well worth a look, and will strike a chord for any real life “cube rats”. Expect to come away thinking.

—The cast is extremely talented. Dana Loren McCoy (keyboards, bass, percussion) captures the charisma of Ingrid, the most vivid of the women. The entire cast is on the mark. The very talented quintet of actor/singer/musicians provides some lively musical entertainment. There would appear to be commercial potential in this small musical, MoM won the best musical award at 2009’s FringeNYC.

“With her hypnotic music and lyrics, plus her label, Featherweight Records, Dana McCoy has become a (Tribeca) artist-entrepreneur to be reckoned with.” “surprisingly unique thoroughly captivating marriage of torch, blues and pop.” “Clearly she’s on her way.” —Rick Bard

Cover – The Underground National for – Fashion, Art, Online, Film, Rock “Dana has a lovely presence. Beautiful, shy and willowy, she is a natural.” –Timothy Greenfield Sanders

Billboard – “McCoy’s voice has a smokey intensity” refers to the songs as “rhythm smart, radio friendly jewels, and spare, acoustic routed confessionals.” Re: the album as a whole: “A beautiful piece of work that lingers in the mind and leaves you hungry for more.” — Larry Flick